Beccariophoenix Alfredii Planted Zone 9b Orlando

[PlantDaddy]

I finally purchased the Beccariophoenix Alfredii here in Orlando Fl. I can’t wait to see how this beautiful palm responds in zone 9b. 

[kinzyjr]

@PlantDaddy Welcome to PalmTalk!

Judging by the others in the area, you should have success with this.

[VA Jeff]

I was looking at a lot of zone 10ish palms in Savannah / Hilton Head today thinking, I hope another zone 8 winter doesn't come for a few years.  Even Orlando might drop to 20 F someday.  But until then, enjoy it for now, because you might be dead by the next time that happens.  I mean that in the positive sense.  Even 4 years of an alfredii is worth it.

[PlantDaddy]

10 hours ago, VA Jeff said:

I was looking at a lot of zone 10ish palms in Savannah / Hilton Head today thinking, I hope another zone 8 winter doesn't come for a few years.  Even Orlando might drop to 20 F someday.  But until then, enjoy it for now, because you might be dead by the next time that happens.  I mean that in the positive sense.  Even 4 years of an alfredii is worth it.

It reached 27 where I’m at. I’m 30 minutes east of Cocoa Beach. I had 48 palms survive the freeze except for a few of my smaller Foxtails. 
I hope I get a couple years of rooting before the next big freeze. 

[South Carolina palms]

On 5/18/2022 at 5:04 PM, PlantDaddy said:

I finally purchased the Beccariophoenix Alfredii here in Orlando Fl. I can’t wait to see how this beautiful palm responds in zone 9b. 

Awesome looking foxtails! What’s the coldest they’ve seen? 

[South Carolina palms]

19 hours ago, VA Jeff said:

I was looking at a lot of zone 10ish palms in Savannah / Hilton Head today thinking, I hope another zone 8 winter doesn't come for a few years.  Even Orlando might drop to 20 F someday.  But until then, enjoy it for now, because you might be dead by the next time that happens.  I mean that in the positive sense.  Even 4 years of an alfredii is worth it.

What were you looking at, I live in Charleston and I have quit a few queen palms, I planted two foxtails this spring so we’ll see how that goes 

[PlantDaddy]

1 hour ago, South Carolina palms said:

Awesome looking foxtails! What’s the coldest they’ve seen? 

I have 14 Foxtails here in 9b. They just survived this 27 degree Winter with hardly no damage. I have a couple neighbors who’s Foxtails died but they had just planted them within the year. I have had my in the ground for 2-3 years if that makes a difference. 


 

[VA Jeff]

5 hours ago, South Carolina palms said:

What were you looking at, I live in Charleston and I have quit a few queen palms, I planted two foxtails this spring so we’ll see how that goes 

There was a guy named Brian that lived in Charleston about a decade ago.  He had a king palm that survived a few years.  I did see a queen palm in a courtyard in Charleston several months ago.  It is closer to the ocean the Savannah by a little bit.  I think with frost cloth, you could grow a queen for 30 years or more, hopefully.  If I buy a place down here in Savannah, I'll start growing a lot of things I always considered way out of reach for zone 8a where I'm from.  That being said, I did get a mule palm through the winter with little protection, but it lost much of its foliage.  After cutting off the brown parts, it has a shuttlecock look now.  I think mules are a very good choice for Charleston or Savannah.  They usually don't get damage here, from the times I've been here over the years.  Too bad people don't plant them more.  Even queens are more common here.

 

The foxtails aren't long term for Charleston, but enjoy them while you can.  If you're willing to eventually lose them, who cares what anyone else thinks.  I personally consider king palms to be prettier, and slightly hardier.  I managed to keep a couple euterpe edulis alive with some protection for several years.  Another possibility for your area with frostcloth.

[South Carolina palms]

4 hours ago, VA Jeff said:

There was a guy named Brian that lived in Charleston about a decade ago.  He had a king palm that survived a few years.  I did see a queen palm in a courtyard in Charleston several months ago.  It is closer to the ocean the Savannah by a little bit.  I think with frost cloth, you could grow a queen for 30 years or more, hopefully.  If I buy a place down here in Savannah, I'll start growing a lot of things I always considered way out of reach for zone 8a where I'm from.  That being said, I did get a mule palm through the winter with little protection, but it lost much of its foliage.  After cutting off the brown parts, it has a shuttlecock look now.  I think mules are a very good choice for Charleston or Savannah.  They usually don't get damage here, from the times I've been here over the years.  Too bad people don't plant them more.  Even queens are more common here.

 

The foxtails aren't long term for Charleston, but enjoy them while you can.  If you're willing to eventually lose them, who cares what anyone else thinks.  I personally consider king palms to be prettier, and slightly hardier.  I managed to keep a couple euterpe edulis alive with some protection for several years.  Another possibility for your area with frostcloth.

Yeah I had one queen survive this past winter and I planted three more earlier this spring, but I’ve been wanting a king palm so if the foxtails die I’ll replace them with that